Lifting the lid of new drinks Deposit Return Scheme
Meath supermarkets are preparing for the launch of the new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on 1st February with reverse vending machines now installed in the majority of supermarkets.
From 1st February, 2024, when you buy a drink featuring the Re-turn logo, you will be charged a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink. The drinks containers included in the scheme are PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150mls and three litres. A deposit of 15c will apply to containers from 150ml to 500ml inclusive and a deposit of 25c for containers over 500mls to three litres inclusive.
From 1st February, when you purchase a drink featuring the Re-turn logo and pay your deposit fee, you will get a full refund on returning the empty, undamaged container to any retail outlet that sells drinks with the Re-turn logo.
Consumers may return containers to a retailer that takes them back over the counter (manual), or through the use of a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM). If returning to an RVM, you must insert all Re-turn drinks containers as instructed and you will then be issued with a voucher which may be redeemed at the till. Vouchers issued from an RVM must be redeemed at the same retail outlet.
All eligible drinks containers will display the Re-turn logo, making it easy to identify what is included in the Deposit Return Scheme. Drinks containers must be returned empty and undamaged.
Retailers may opt for either manual return or for automatic collection, through Reverse Vending Machines. It is not compulsory for any retailer to have a reverse vending machine.
As part of its national rollout, ALDI has installed reverse vending machines at all 161 stores nationwide, of which 71 will be conveniently installed externally at covered DRS units, with internal DRS kiosks being installed at all remaining stores. ALDI expects to facilitate the recycling of approximately 240 million empty bottles and cans per year through its DRS machines.
As part of its nationwide launch, Colin Breslin, Managing Director of Buying & Services Aldi Ireland said: “I would encourage people to embrace this initiative from the get-go and to remind customers that Aldi will accept empty drinks items, either plastic bottles or aluminium cans, from any retailer once they have the Re-turn logo on the product in question.”
Meanwhile, Supervalu and Centra has outlined details of its €28m in Reverse Vending Machines as part of their continued commitment to building more sustainable communities, with reverse vending machines installed in 540 stores across 26 counties.
A total of 667 Reverse Vending Machines are available to customers in 219 SuperValu and 321 Centra stores nationwide.
Ian Allen, Managing Director SuperValu & Centra commented:
“As part of our strategy to build more sustainable communities and play our part in protecting the planet, we are delighted to roll out the DRS scheme across our 540 SuperValu and Centra stores. By investing €28m in the installation of over 600 Reverse Vending Machines in every county in Ireland we hope to make returns as convenient as possible for everyone.
SuperValu and Centra estimate that 90 per cent of recyclable PET bottles and AUL cans sold in store will be returned and more than 320 million containers are projected to be collected annually with the rollout of Reverse Vending Machines across the store network